Outline of the Grading System

For further information and details, download the UTA NI Grading Knowledge PDF from the downloads section below.  NOTE :  THESE ARE CURRENTLY OUT OF DATE - NEW VERSIONS AVAILABLE SOON

Kup Grades / 10th - 1st

Before going for your Kup grade...

• You must be a full member of the UTA NI & UTA with a valid UTA/British Taekwondo licence
• You must have trained to the required period as recommended by your Instructor
• You will be invited to grade - gradings are not automatic and your instructor will tell you when you are ready

Between each grade up to red belt there is a minimum of three months training and a minimum of 24 training sessions.  If you train once a week it will take longer to move through the belts and once you are going for green belt or above you need to be aiming for at least two sessions a week.  Less than that and you just won't be able to develop the skills necessary to pass your grading You will also need to show in class that you have learned the new techniques and patterns as laid out in the syllabus, to the standard of the belt you are grading for.  This means you need to work hard in class - otherwise your instructor won't believe that you are ready! We want to see all our students getting new belts as often as they are able but it does depend on putting the effort in class.   Trust us, it will be worthwhile when you get your new belt!   White Belt Signifies innocence as that of the beginning student who has no previous knowledge of Taekwondo. White Belt (10th Kup) - White Belt with Yellow Tag (9th Kup)

• Minimum period 3 months training and 24 classes , preferably at least twice weekly
• Basic movements - including stepping forwards/backwards, switching stances
• Poomsae - Taegeuk Giboneil & Sajigjuligi
• Technical - basic hand techniques including blocking, striking, punching
• Basic kicking techniques - axe, push, front, side, turning
• Set sparring
• Knowledge - counting in Korean, basic taekwondo knowledge

Yellow Belt Signifies the earth from which a plant sprouts and takes root as the foundations of Taekwondo are being laid. White Belt with Yellow Tag (9th Kup) - Yellow Belt (8th Kup)

• Minimum period 3 months and 24 classes , preferably at least twice weekly
• Basic movements adding a combination of hand techniques
• Poomsae - Giboneil, Sajigjuligi & TaeGuk II Jang
• Technical - basic hand techniques (block, strike, punch) moving in various stances (apkoobi, dwikoobi, apsogi)
• Basic kicking techniques - axe, push, front, side, turning, back
• Free sparring
• Knowledge - basic taekwondo related Korean, basic taekwondo knowledge

Yellow Belt (8th Kup) - Yellow Belt with Green Tag (7th Kup)

• Minimum period 3 months training and 24 classes , preferably at least twice weekly
• Poomsae - TaeGuks: II Jang & Ee Jang
• Technical - hand techniques (block, strike, punch) in combinations moving in various stances
• Kicking techniques - axe, push, front, side, turning, back, reverse turning
• Free sparring & 3 step Sparring
• Knowledge - basic taekwondo related Korean, basic taekwondo knowledge

Green Belt Signifies the plants growth as Taekwondo skills begin to develop. Yellow Belt with Green Tag (7th Kup) - Green Belt (6th Kup)

• Minimum period 3 months training and 24 classes ,training at least twice weekly
• Poomsae - TaeGuks: II Jang, Ee Jang & Sam Jang
• Technical - hand techniques (block, strike, punch) in combinations moving in various stances
• Kicking techniques - axe, push, front, side, turning, back, reverse turning
• Free sparring & 3 step Sparring
• Power & Accuracy test - side kick, back kick onto focus pad
• Knowledge - basic taekwondo related Korean, basic taekwondo knowledge

Green Belt (6th Kup) - Green Belt with Blue Tag (5th Kup)

• Minimum period 3 months training and 32 classes ,training at least twice weekly
• Poomsae - TaeGuks: II Jang, Ee Jang, Sam Jang & Sah Jang
• Technical - hand techniques (block, strike, punch) in combinations moving in various stances
• Kicking techniques - axe, push, front, side, turning, back, reverse turning
• Free sparring & 3 step Sparring
• Power & Accuracy test - turning kick, back kick, axe kick
• Knowledge - basic taekwondo related Korean, basic taekwondo knowledge

Blue Belt Signifies the heaven towards which the plant matures into a towering tree as training in Taekwondo progresses. Green Belt with Blue Tag (5th Kup) - Blue Belt (4th Kup)

• Minimum period 3 months training and 32 classes ,training at least twice weekly
• Demonstrate Taekwondo spirit & skilled movements
• Poomsae - TaeGuks: II Jang, Ee Jang, Sam Jang, Sah Jang & Oh Jang
• Technical - hand techniques (block, strike, punch) in combinations moving in various stances
• Kicking techniques - axe, push, front, side, turning, back, reverse turning
• Free sparring & 3 step Sparring
• Power & Accuracy test - turning kick, back kick, axe kick
• Knowledge - Taekwondo related Korean, Taekwondo knowledge

Blue Belt (4th Kup) - Blue Belt with Red Tag (3rd Kup)

• Minimum period 3 months training and 32 classes ,training at least twice weekly
• Demonstrate Taekwondo spirit & skilled movements
• Poomsae - TaeGuks: II Jang, Ee Jang, Sam Jang, Sah Jang, Oh Jang & Yuk Jang
• Technical - hand techniques (block, strike, punch) in combinations moving in various stances
• Kicking techniques - axe, push, front, side, turning, back, reverse turning
• Free sparring & 1 step sparring
• Power & Accuracy test - jumping back kick, knife hand, fore fist
• Knowledge - Taekwondo related Korean, Taekwondo knowledge & theory

Red Belt Signifies danger cautioning the student to exercise control and warning opponents to stay away Dan Grade. Blue Belt with Red Tag (3rd Kup) - Red Belt (2nd Kup)

• Minimum period 3 months training and 32 classes ,training two or three times weekly
• Demonstrate Taekwondo spirit & skilled movements
• Poomsae - TaeGuks: II Jang, Ee Jang, Sam Jang, Sah Jang, Oh Jang, Yuk Jang & Chil Jang
• Technical - hand techniques (block, strike, punch) in combinations moving in various stances
• Kicking techniques - axe, push, front, side, turning, back, reverse turning
• Free sparring, 1-1 technique sparring & 1 step sparring
• Power & Accuracy test - turning kick, back kick, axe kick
• Knowledge - Taekwondo related Korean, Taekwondo knowledge, theory & history & basic knowledge of Taewondo sparring (free sparring & 3 step sparring)

Red Belt (2nd Kup) - Red Belt with Black Tag (1st Kup)

• Minimum period 6 months and 60 classes, training two or three times weekly
• Demonstrate Taekwondo spirit & skilled movements
• Poomsae - TaeGuks: II Jang, Ee Jang, Sam Jang, Sah Jang, Oh Jang, Yuk Jang, Chil Jang & Pal Jang
• Technical - hand techniques (block, strike, punch) in combinations moving in various stances
• Kicking techniques - axe, push, front, side, turning, back, reverse turning
• Full contact competition sparring, 1 step sparring
• Power & Accuracy test - reverse turning kick, jumping back kick, turning kick, axe kick, back kick, knife hand, fore fist
• Knowledge - Taekwondo related Korean, Taekwondo knowledge, theory & history & basic knowledge of Taewondo sparring (free sparring & 3 step sparring)

Dan Grades / 1st - 9th

Black Belt Opposite to White, therefore, signifies the maturity and proficiency in Taekwondo. Also indicates the wearer's imperviousness to darkness and fear. These gradings contain much more depth and detail - download the grading knowledge pack below in the downloads section.